Unicef is looking for U-Report T4D Specialist, P-3, TA, Kinshasa, RDC

 

 

Context :

Innovation is a core UNICEF strategy for delivering better, faster and more impactful results for children. As a global champion of child rights and well-being, UNICEF has a unique ability to convene partners from across both public and private sectors – offering a powerful opportunity to shape DRC’s social innovation landscape around the greatest challenges facing children and young people.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of ICT Manager and working in close collaboration with the Chiefs of Programme Sections and the Communication and Emergency Section, the Technology for Development (T4D) specialist will coordinate and support development and implementation of innovation products and processes, particularly for U-Report, to strengthen and improve efficiency and effectiveness of UNICEF’s programming, monitoring and evaluation, as well as advocacy and communication throughout the emergency and development nexus.

U-Report – is a real-time communication and data tool designed for youth and community members to strengthen accountability to affected populations (AAP) community-led development and citizen participation in development and emergency programming. It allows young people and communities to speak out via SMS and other channels – through polls and unsolicited messages – on what is happening in their communities. It provides a forum to amplify their voices through local and national media and acts as a citizen-sourced, real-time data point for government partners, service providers and decision-makers about the issues being faced in communities. The platform also feeds back useful information to the U-Report participants, so they are empowered through having reliable information to improve and in some cases save their own lives.

 

 

For every child, save lives :

Democratic Republic of Congo :

 In spite of its vast physical size and limitless natural resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 176th out of 188 countries in the 2015 human development report. Child poverty is widespread, particularly in conflict-affected and hard-to reach areas. According to a recent UNICEF study, 80 percent of children aged zero to 15 years old experience at least two major child rights deprivations. Despite sustained growth in recent years, the size of DRC’s economy remains far too small to provide enough government revenue to meet the basic needs of the population, children in particular. Since 2016, political instability, the persistence of conflicts in Eastern DRC and a sharp fall in global commodity prices have been aggravating factors.

DRC is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the World where UNICEF works to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path.

 

 

How can you make a difference?

The U-Report T4D specialist will provide ongoing strategic, programmatic and technical support to section chiefs and external stakeholders in setting up and scaling the U-Report platform to ongoing emergency programming efforts in the DRC Ebola response, more specifically:

1. Develop a U-Report programme strategy: Work with programme chiefs to map real-time community data and communications needs to activities that can be facilitated through U-Report ;
2. Develop and launch a U-Report scale up plan: Identify and build partnerships with local organisations (NGOs, CSOs etc) with large networks that can be mobilised to join the U-Report platform and participate in polls and accessing life saving information.  Activate local media channels such as radio, to promote participation in U-Report and provide feedback to communities affected by the Ebola outbreak ;
3. Map referral mechanisms:  Identify mechanisms for treatment and prevention in place to support the Ebola response and raise awareness about them to affected communities.  Put communication systems in place via U-Report that will drive demand of such mechanisms.  Collect feedback from members or “U-Reporters” on the usefulness and effectiveness of the mechanisms ;
4. Support the ICT Manager in the day-to-day running of the U-Report platform via RapidPro.  Maintain vendor contracts. Build capacity in the office across all programme sections to demystify the technical components tool and work with UNICEF colleagues in the country and field offices to ensure they have access to the tool to support programming needs. Keep the website up to date and publish poll results weekly ;
5. Liaise with sister UN agencies, particularly OCHA, WFP, UNHCR and other cluster leads to share information and U-Report platform use once at scale ;
6. Develop U-Report partnerships and network with local innovators, youth organizations, NGOs, cultural and religious organizations, the private sector, local media and academia to build and provide a space to nurture and test new and innovative ideas, develop the next generation of thought leaders and build local capacity ;
7. Oversee deployment and national scale-up of U-Report, a mobile-based youth participation and advocacy platform, and provide technical support for deployment of RapidPro, to enable real-time information collection including negotiations with mobile network companies and other service providers for free or discounted SMS ;
8. Provide Real-Time Monitoring & Information Systems support using U-Report/RapidPro to programme sections in gathering and refining requirements for deployment of RapidPro-based solutions, with priority for the on-going Ebola response ;

• Liaise with service providers to ensure effective set-up and management of hosting services for RapidPro;
• Support programme sections and partners in deployment and ongoing management of new products with priority for the on-going Ebola response ;
• Provide capacity building to programme sections and key counterparts in the design, development, and management of new products ;

9. Establish the U-Partners platform to support UNICEF’s obligation to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of affected populations.  Ensure reports of sexual exploitation are routed appropriately if received ;
10. Provide support to C4D chief to digitize Ebola programme related content into U-Report formats and repurpose for scalable access to people affected by or at risk of the Ebola outbreak in DRC ;
11. Support to other T4D initiatives :

• Provide support and technical assistance the area of Technology for Development (T4D). Assist programme sections to identify and assess new T4D initiatives, or new phases of on-going initiatives ;
• Support the programme sections in the identification of innovative technologies, processes and products, including suitable solutions that correspond to programme needs ;
• Support the programme in negotiation and engagement with the telecommunications companies and Regulatory Authorities, and contract development by either UNICEF or implementing partners ;

12. Partnership :

• Research, identify, and suggest potential partners in the areas of innovation and Technology for Development.
• Support negotiation and management of innovative partnerships.
• Support establishment of long-term strategic engagements (such as LTAs, PCAs, SSFAs and MoUs) with strategic partners;

13. M&E and Documentation :

• Support documentation and development of communication materials for innovation and Technology for Development related projects.
• Support the monitoring and evaluation of innovation and Technology for Development projects.
• Capture lessons learned from various projects and share within the country office and UNICEF at large.

14. Capacity building

• Strengthening the capacities of UNICEF staff and partners in the areas of U-Report Technology for Development by identifying appropriate online and onsite training.

15. Transition to Development: at such time as the Ebola outbreak is over transition U-Report and existing U-Reporters to UNICEF’s development programming agenda ensure community and youth feedback is part of UNICEF programme strategy formulation and ongoing feedback.

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… .

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in in International Development, Business Administration, Communications or another related field ;
• A relevant first-level university degree (Bachelor’s), in combination with 2 years of additional relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree (Master’s)  ;
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in project management, development programming, emergency response or disaster reduction work.  Familiar with online applications and communications important ;
• Strong analytical and interpersonal communication skills, attention to detail. Ability to translate business needs into technical requirements ;
• Ability to stay abreast of new technologies and their ability to support UNICEF‘s innovation projects to improve efficiency and effectiveness of business units ;
• Ability to foster excellent work relationships and build alliances with key stakeholders ;
• Prior experience working mobile phone projects, real-time information projects and field deployment/implementation in developing countries is highly desirable ;
• Fluency in English and French is required with advanced written and oral proficiency.

 

For every Child, you demonstrate… :

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

 

 

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.